Fish saving apparatus for traveling screens



Sept. 9, 1958 L. G. BLEYER 2,851,162

- FISH SAVING APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING SCREENS Filed oct. 16. 1952 2shetssneet 1 Sept. 9, 1958 L. G. BLEYER 2,851,162

FISH SAVING APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING SCREENS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.16, 1952 INVENTOR Lloyd Gleyer',

ATTORNEY United States Patent FISH SAVING APPARATUS FOR TRAVELINGSCREENS Application October 16, 1952, Serial No. 315,109

7 Claims. (Cl. 210--158) The invention relates to apparatus forscreening water whereby to condition it for industrial use 0r otherpurposes, and more especially to traveling water screens of v the typeshown, for example, in prior U. S. Patents No. 1,781,223 grantedNovember 11, 1930; No. 1,815,137 granted July 21, 1931, and No.1,856,381 granted May 3, 1932.

Briefly, such screens comprise Ia series of adjoining screen elements orbaskets carried by a pair .of transversely spaced endless strands oflong-pitch chain which are trained about head and boot sprocketsjournaled in a framework that includes transversely spaced verticalmembers providing guides for at least the forward or upwardly moving runof the screen. The apparatus is mounted in a substantially verticalposition across the ume or conduit through which the water is withdrawnfrom the river, lake or other source, and extends from the bottom ofsuch ilume to above the highest level the water may attain therein sothat all of the Water must pass through the screen. When the solidscarried by the water accumulate on the screening elements of the forwardrun to such an lextent as to materially reduce the ilow of screenedwater, the apparatus is moved by appropriate power means to raise thefouled elements from the ume and bring clean baskets from the rearwardrun into screening position. Such movements usually are made only onceor twice a day, although of course they may take place at more frequentintervals if the quantity of solids carried by the water so dictates. Asindicated in said Patent No. 1,781,223 and also in prior Patent No.1,942,381, the solids usually are removed from the elevated baskets bymeans .of jets or sprays of water at relatively high pressure, projectedagainst and through the screening elements from the rear thereof.

The individual screen baskets comprise an open rectangular metallicframe which supports a wire mesh or similar screening member, and thetransverse members of said frame are formed to provide seals betweenadjacent baskets which effectively prevent trash from escaping throughthe joint between Ithe baskets, not only when they are disposed in thestraight forward run of the screen but also when they are travelingabout the submerged boot sprockets. The trailing transverse frame memberof each basket usually is also formed to provide a trash-lifting lipwhich serves to elevate twigs and other relatively large solids when thescreening elements are raised to the cleaning position, and the abovementioned jets or sprays of -cleaning water also sweep these lips toremove the solids therefrom. t

In the use of screens of the character above described to effect removalof solids from water taken from rivers, lakes or other natural bodies inwhich fish are present, it has been found that many small vish pressedagainst the screen elements by the water current are carried up by thetrash lips when the baskets are withdrawn from the ume for cleaning, andthat if such fish are subjected to the action of the high pressurecleaning jets or sprays Patented Sept. 9, 1958 HCC they are frequentlykilled or seriously injured. From the `standpoint of the conservation ofwild life it is desirable that this. be avoided, and therefore it is theprincipalobject of the present invention to provide simple` and ef.fective means whereby any fish which may be elevated by the screeningapparatus will be returned `to. the body of unscreened water` withoutsubstantial harm. lOne form of apparatus constructed and arranged inaccordance with the invention has been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specif-` ication, in whichlike referencecharacters `design'ate'like parts throughout the views, and in'which: .fFigure l is a side elevational View, partly in section, of the upperportion of a water screen of the character above described and equippedwith the present fish-Savin devices; A `1 Fig. 2 is a front elevationalView of the parts shown inFig.1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View,`onan enlarged scale and partly broken away, taken approximately'on theplanes indicated by the line 3--3 in Fig. 2, looking down, and with thepiping for supplying Alow pressure water to the apparatus omitted; f"Fig. 4 is a front elevational view, partly broken away and in section,of the parts shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 lis a vertical sectional-elevational'View onf-ap'- proximatelythe planes indicated 'by the line 5-5 in Fig. 4, looking in thedirection of the arrows. t

Referring to said drawings in greater detail, the cori-vk ventionaltraveling water screen shown comprises a frame: work which includes apair of transversely spaced vertical members 11 and 12 that extendfromthe bottomof the flume or raw water conduit to above the door 13 ofthe screen house and are provided lat theirupper ends with upwardlyextended guide members 14'betwe`en which are slidably mounted theadjustable bearing blocks 15 which journal the head shaft 16. The saidshaft rigidly carries the head sprockets 17, and is driven by a motor 18through .a speed reducing mechanism 19 and a chain drive 20. N

The screening mechanism proper comprises a long ii tudinally alinedseries of screenelements or basketsl 21, each of which includes arectangular metal vframe cm-v prising segmental end plates 22 and 23joined by trans# verse rails or members 24 and 25 which, as best shownin Fig. 5, are formed to provide trash-excluding seals b'etween adjacentbaskets. The members 24 also provide 4the forwardly projecting trashlifting lips mentioned above. A sheet of wire mesh or similar screeningmaterial 26 is secured within the basket frame, and the respective endplates 22 and Z3 of each such frame are rigidly attached to complementallinks of the transversely spaced endless strands of long-pitch rollerchain 27 which are ktrained over the head sprockets 17. The uprightmembers 11 and 12 of the stationary framework of the apparatus are provided along their forward edges with inturned anges 28 and 29respectively which, in conjunction with the ver: tical angle irons 30and 31 secured to the members 11 and 12 in rearwardly spaced relation tosaid flanges, provide guide channels in which the forward runs of thechains'27 travel, as will be clear from Fig. 3.

The conventional screening apparatus also includes: a header 32 suppliedwith waterunder considerablepressure from any suitable source, whichheader is equipped" with a plurality of nozzles 33 arranged to projectsprays of said water against the rearward surfaces of the screeningelements when they are elevated to the cleaning posi-V tion, whereby todislodge the debris accumulated onsaid elements and Hush it into arefuse trough 34, all as in said prior `Patents Nos. 1,781,223 and1,942,381. p

The fish-saving devices constituting the gist of the present inventioncomprise the following:

Each screen basket 21 is provided with a trough 35 adjacent andparalleling'the trash-lifting lip 24 and extending from one end plate ofthe basket to the other; and an opening 36 is cut through the end plate22 to provide a discharge port for said trough. To the forward face ofthe ange 28 of the vertical frame member 11 there is rigidly secured awooden or equivalent rubbing strip 37 which extends downwardly from thefloor level 13 to at least below the lowest water level contemplated inthe ume. A similar `strip 38 is secured to the flange 29 of the framemember 12, which strip however is mounted for limited lateral movementrelative to. the ange and is backed by a plurality of leaf springs 39carried by brackets 40 secured to the flange, which springs continuouslypress the strip 38 against the end plates 23 of the baskets and in turnpress the other end plates 22 against the strip 37. When viewed as inFigs. 1 and 5, the strip 37 is alined with openings 36 in the basket endplates 22 and is of suicient width to close said openings and therebyprevent discharge from the troughs 35 so long as the openings adjoin thestrip.

An open topped receptacle 41 is secured to the flange 28 of frame member11 above the rubbing strip 37 and the inward wall of said receptacle isprovided with an elongated opening 42 disposed for registration with thedischarge ports 36 of the troughs 35 after the screen baskets areelevated above the upper end of the strip 37. A discharge conduit 43leads from the lower portion of the Opposite wall of said receptacle 41,somewhat above the bottom of the latter whereby a well 44 is provided inwhich some water will always be present. The conduit 43 discharges intoa channel 45 which extends to the river, lake or other body from whichthe water is being withdrawn for screening.

With the screening apparatus equipped with the elements just described,it will be readily understood that when the screen is moved to elevatethe trash-loaded baskets to the cleaning position, the troughs 35 of thebaskets will carry up any sh which may be trapped against the screen,along with the larger debris which heretofore has been raised by thetrash lips 24, and also some of the flume Water. While the running jointbetween the basket end plates 22 and the rubbing strip 37 is notnecessarily liquid tight, most of said water will be retained in thetroughs until they reach the point of registration of their dischargeports 36 with the opening 42 in the receptacle 41. At this time thewater will escape from the troughs into said receptacle, carrying withit any tish that may be present and perhaps some of the smaller debris,and will return to the source of the nume water through the conduit 43andl channel 45. Twigs and other large trash carried up by the troughswill continue upward until dislodged by the high pressure sprays fromthe nozzles 33 and discharged into the refuse trough 34, as heretofore.The sh however, are not subjected to these high pressure sprays andtherefore are not harmed as in the past.

As best shown in Figs. l and 2, a low pressure water system is providedfor supplying water to the iish-saving apparatus at several points,whereby to further insure preservation of the fish and their return tothe flume water source. A pipe leading from any appropriate source ofsupply discharges water into the channel 45 to maintain a continuous owtherein, at least when the screen is being moved; and a pipe 51branching from said pipe 50 conducts water to a spray pipe 52 located infront of the screen between the oor level 13 and the level of the waterin the flume. During the periods between movements of the screen one ormore of the basket troughs 35 will have stopped above the said waterlevel but below the point of discharge into the receptacle 41, and sinceas previously indicated the joint between the end plates 22 and therubbing strip 37 is not wholly liquid tight, the ume water carried bysuch troughs will gradually leak out. The spray pipe 52 replenishes thewater in such troughs during the time they are stationary and thusprevents any sh caught in the troughs from dying for lack of water.

A pipe 53 branching from pipe 51 discharges low pres sure water into theupper portion of the receptacle 41; and a pipe 54 also branching frompipe 51 discharges a jet of such water into the troughs 35 adjacent theclosed ends thereof as they reach their discharge position opposite thesaid receptacle, whereby to flush the troughs and assist in transfer ofthe iish to the receptacle. If desired the several pipes may be providedwith appropriate valves whereby the various low pressure waterdischarges may be regulated or cut olf as necessary.

The upper edge of the front wall of the troughs 35 preferably isserrated as at 55, the notches thus provided serving, especially when atrough is stationary and receiving water from the spray pipe 52, topermit escape of excess water over said front wall while at the sametime the teeth between the notches prevent the sh from being carried outof the trough with such water.

While one form of the invention has been illustrated and described it isobvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstructions as well as the precise arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and therefore it is notwished to be limited to the above disclosure except as may be requiredby thc appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In water screening apparatus, the combination with an endless seriesof screen elements mounted for serial rectilinear movement upward from ascreening position in a channel for containing a owing body of water,and means for so moving said elements, of water-retaining fish-receivingtroughs carried by said screen elements, each such trough having an enddischarge port; and means controlling said ports to prevent discharge ofthe trough contents until the troughs reach a determined point above thebody of water in said channel.

2. In water screening apparatus, the combination of an endless series ofscreen elements mounted for serial rectilinear upward movement from ascreening position in a channel for containing a tlowing body of water;means for so moving said elements; water-retaining fshreceiving troughscarried by said screen elements, each such trough having a dischargeport at one of its ends; and a fixed member disposed above the waterlevel in said channel and slidably engaged by the ported ends of saidtroughs to prevent discharge of the trough contents through said portsuntil the troughs reach a determined point above said water level.

3. In water screening apparatus, the combination with an endless seriesof screen elements mounted for serial rectilinear movement upward from ascreening position in a channel for containing a flowing body of water,and means for so moving said elements, of water-retaining fish-receivingtroughs carried by said screen elements, each such trough having adischarge port at one of its ends; a fixed member extending upwardly insaid channel and slidably engaged by the ported ends of said troughs toprevent discharge of the trough contents until the troughs reach adetermined point above the water level; and resilient means acting onthe screen elements to maintain contact between said ported trough endsand said fixed member.

4. In Water screening apparatus, the combination with an endless seriesof screen elements mounted for serial rectilinear upward movement from ascreening position in a channel for containing a flowing body of water,and means for so moving said elements, of water-retaining fish-receivingtroughs carried by said screen elements, each such trough having adischarge port; a receptacle for receiving the sh from said troughs,mounted adjacent the path thereof and above the water level in saidchannel; and means controlling said trough ports to prevent discharge ofthe trough contents therethrough until the troughs reach saidreceptacle.

5. In Water screening apparatus, the combination with an endless seriesof screen elements mounted for serial rectilinear upward travel from ascreening position in a channel for containing a flowing body of water,and means for so moving said elements, of water-retaining sh-receivingtroughs carried by said screen elements, each such trough having adischarge port at one of its ends; a ported receptacle for receiving thesh from said troughs, mounted adjacent the path thereof above the waterlevel in said channel; and a iXed member extending from said Water levelto said receptacle and slidably engaged by the ported ends of thetroughs to prevent discharge of the trough contents until the troughports register with the receptacle port.

6. In water screening apparatus, the combination of an endless series ofscreen elements mounted for serial rectilinear upward movement from ascreening position in a channel for containing a flowing body of water,each such element including a pair of end plates one of which isprovided with a port; means for moving said screen elements; ahorizontal water-retaining fish-receiving trough carried by each screenelement between the end plates thereof with one of its ends registeringwith said plate port; a ported receptacle for receiving the sh from saidtroughs, mounted adjacent the path thereof above the water level in saidchannel; and a fixed rubbing strip extending from said water level tosaid receptacle and slidably engaged by the ported end plates of thescreen elements to prevent discharge of the trough contents until theplate ports register with the port of said receptacle.

7. A screening element for traveling water screens, comprising arectangular frame including spaced end plates, one of which is providedwith a port; a reticulate screen member carried by said frame; and awaterretaining fish-receiving trough extending between said end platesand communicating with said port.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS264,395 Wilson Sept. 12, 1882 1,208,655 Reynolds Dec. 12, 1916 1,522,772Fearnow et al. Jan. 13, 1925 1,590,688 Honeyman June 29, 1926 1,593,169Geiger July 20, 1926 1,606,546 Wallene Nov. 9, 1926 1,640,653l GeigerAug. 30, 1927 1,781,223 Gary Nov. 11, 1930 1,815,137 Bleyer July 21,1931 1,856,381 Gary May 3, 1932 1,910,860 Sayers May 23, 1933 1,942,381Benish Jan. 2, 1934 2,071,670 Warner Feb. 23, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS530,791 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1940

